Election Day: Morton District 709 School Board

Seven candidates are competing Tuesday for three open seats on the District 709 School Board.

Because of a quirk in the state’s school code, the top three vote-getters may not win. At least one winner must live in the K-12 district’s unincorporated area.

Three candidates — incumbents Michelle Bernier and Tim Taylor and challenger Shad Beaty — live in the incorporated area. Incumbent John Applen and challengers David King, Ron Hale and Jeff Schmidgall live in the unincorporated area.

The campaign has been long and contentious with candidates exchanging views on should be the district’s long-term facilities plan, spending practices, Internet security, transparency and the Illinois State Learning Standards.

The Morton Education Association has endorsed board candidates for what’s believed to be the first time. The union, which represents about 180 teachers, counselors, social workers, psychologists, speech language pathologists and technology specialists, endorsed Bernier, Taylor and Hale.